Book 2 - Ebu

Learning Resource Kit: Book 2
Special focus: Learning from feminist media initiatives
The report below fills gaps in mainstream media’s gender-imbalanced accounts
of peace-building in Bougainville at the same time as it demonstrates the role of
feminist media initiatives in bringing visibility to women’s participation.
Title:
Reporter:
Where published:
Women played key role in ending Bougainville war – call to end silence
Louise Anne Laris (community media correspondent in Bougainville)
Pacific Scoop, New Zealand. http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/womenplayed-key-role-in-ending-bougainville-conflict
now-a-call to-endsilence/
Date 24 September 2011
A community leader says reviewing the Bougainville Peace Agreement is a “crucial
step forward” for civil society and the Autonomous Bougainville government needs
to reflect and set positive goals.
Helen Hakena, executive director of Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency
and convenor of the Regional Media and Policy Network on UNSCR 1325 in
Bougainville, said the government must enhance efforts to prevent future conflicts.
Also a founding member of GPPAC Pacific, Hakena said during an International
Peace Day event:
“For the first time a civil society group in Bougainville, in collaboration with partners
of the GPPAC, will conduct a reflection consultation with ABG officials to look at
challenges and achievements facing the peace process.
“This consultation is a big step calling together church groups, women’s groups, ABG
officials and ex-combatants to share their views on how ABG can go about the
reconciliation processes and the destruction of arms, challenges that hinder peace
and security issues,” she added.
She was speaking as convenor of a peace dialogue convened 10 years since the signing
of the Bougainville Peace Agreement to review progress.
The dialogue has considered not only achievements – such as the staging of elections
for the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government – but the
“everyday challenges confronting the peace process”.
“Unfinished” weapons disposal
In an interview with Radio Australia, Hakena highlighted the need to engage with
government bodies to address all underlying issues such as the “unfinished” weapons
disposal programme, noting that the lack of arms disposal is the core activity fuelling
up the continuous conflict in South Bougainville:
“In the last 10 years the peace process has moved ahead positively but there are some
challenges that impede the peace process such as the full engagement of women in
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